Members were advised that the
Chair was running later. Prior to his
arrival the Vice Chair, Councillor Mike Rouse, chaired the
meeting.

10.

Declarations of Interest

To invite
Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other
Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to
confirm the nature of those interests.

Minutes:

Councillor Michael Chalk
advised that he had suggested that the scout hut located off
Feckenham Road should be used as a
polling station in Headless Cross.
Whilst Councillor Chalk was involved with the Redditch Scouts he
confirmed that he did not have a pecuniary interest in the
matter.

The Electoral Services Manager
explained that following the previous meeting of the Committee a
consultation exercise had been held in respect of the proposed
locations for polling stations and the review of polling
districts. Some feedback had been
received and this had been recorded in the report for
Members’ consideration.

No changes were being proposed
to polling district boundaries.
However, Members were invited to consider feedback in respect of
potential locations for polling stations and to determine where
these should be situated.

In Church Hill, as requested by
Members, Officers had investigated the potential to introduce a
temporary polling station in the vicinity of Maismore Close and Jersey Close. Three potential locations had been identified
which had been highlighted on a map for Members’
consideration. One of these locations
was not overlooked by houses and there was additional room
available in which a temporary polling station could be installed
and parking would be available as it would be on the site of a
former playground area. The second site
was located on the eastern side of Maisemore Close, but had restricted parking
options. The third option was again
located on Maisemore Close but was
considered to be less desirable as it was overlooked by
houses.

As requested at the previous
meeting of the Committee Officers had contacted Abbeywood First School, the current location of the
polling station in the area, about the potential for the school to
fund a temporary polling station in the area. No response had been received from the school by
the date of the meeting.

Members discussed the position
in respect of the polling station currently located at Abbeywood First School. Concerns were raised that
the school had not responded in relation to funding a temporary
polling station and it was noted that this station would therefore
cost the Council £1,500 which would be a budget
pressure. Furthermore, it was noted
that at the previous meeting Members had suggested that the polling
station would not move if the school was not prepared to fund the
costs of the temporary polling station.
However, concerns were also raised about the impact that school
closure could have on both students and their parents.

During consideration of this
matter Councillor Bill Hartnett proposed that the polling station
in Church Hill polling district CHB should continue to be based in
Abbeywood First School. This proposal was seconded by Councillor Greg
Chance.

On being put to the vote the
proposal was lost.

Members subsequently agreed
that the polling station at Church Hill polling district CHB should
move to a portable polling station in the Jersey Close and
Maisemore Close vicinity and that
Officers should write again to the school to request that the
school cover the costs of the temporary polling
station. Officers explained that should
the school not agree to provide financial assistance to fund the
temporary polling station the costs of this temporary polling
station would need to be included as a budget bid in the
...
view the full minutes text for item 12.